Liquid contact inertia switch with reset plunger and electrolyte

ABSTRACT

A vessel containing a circuit-closing electrolyte is adjustably attached to a vehicle. Should the vehicle roll over, the electrolyte passes through a diaphragm valve, thereby breaking the circuit from the battery. A plunger valve is provided for returning the electrolyte to the electrode compartment after the vehicle is righted.

United States Patent [191 Yauchler Aug. 13, 1974 LIQUID CONTACT INERTIA SWITCH WITH RESET PLUNGER AND ELECTROLYTE [76] Inventor: Richard A. Yauchler, Rt. No. 4 Box 93, Harpersfield, NY. 53948 [22] Filed: May 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 363,183

[52] US. Cl. ZOO/61.47, 200/193 [51] Int. Cl. HOlh 35/02 [58] Field of Search ZOO/61.47, 83 F, 182, 193,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Boyer 200/211 Turnupseed et al. 200/21 1 X 3,001,044 9/1961 Brown ZOO/61.47 X 3,163,726 12/1964 Kalish et a1. 200/211 X 3,208,023 9/1965 Polye 200/194 X 3,711,669 1/1973 Keranen 200/167 A Primary ExaminerJames R. Scott [57] ABSTRACT A vessel containing a circuit-closing electrolyte is adjustably attached to a vehicle. Should the vehicle roll over, the electrolyte passes through a diaphragm valve, thereby breaking the circuit from the battery. A plunger valve is provided for returning the electrolyte to the electrode compartment after the vehicle is righted.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures This invention relates to vehicle safety devices, and

trodes 25 and 26. The electrodes extend through shell 11 to a pair of terminals 25A and 26A respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, switch is shown retained by a clamping means 27. The tightness of clamp 27 is admore particularly to devices for automatically severing 5 luslable y a Screw 28 in a Well known n rlamp the ignition circuit on vehicle roll-over.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a vessel containing a quantity of electrolyte that closes the circuit between two electrodes, one of which is connected to the battery and the other to the ignition circuit, an upper chamber separated by a diaphragm or flap valve through which liquid can pass in one direction only, and an externally operable valve permitting the flow of liquid opposite to the diaphragm valve for the purpose of returning the electrolyte to the electrode chamber. By this means the vessel, attached to a surface of the vehicle, allows current to pass from the battery to the ignition circuit in a normal manner. Should the vehicle tilt to a dangerous angle or turn completely upside down, thereby creating a fire hazard, the battery circuit is broken until the vehicle is turned upright at which time the electrolyte may be manually returned to the circuit-connecting chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch with adjustment means for leveling in the event that attachment is made to a non-vertical surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a quick, reliable means for restoring the normal circuit closure.

Yet another object is to provide a switch that is vibration-proof, reliable and long lasting under all conditions of vehicle operation yet low in cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a switch in a transparent enclosure so that visual inspection can be made of the electrolyte level for reliable operation during normal inclination of the vehicle on steep grades.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a means for emptying or filling the vessel with electrolyte.

These and other objects will become evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation section view of the switch;

FIG. 2 is a view thereof after the switch has been turned upside down;

FIG. 3 is a view of the switch, partly broken away to show the electrolyte return operation, and shown installed in an adjustable clamp, the clamp attached to a vehicle surface.

Referring to the figures, there is seen a switch 10, according to the invention, comprising a transparent plastic enclosure 11, divided into an upper compartment 12 and a lower compartment 13 separated by a disc 14 pierced with a multiplicity of openings 15. A diaphragm l6 resting on divider l4 effectually closes openings 15 as seen in a position of FIG. 1.

Centrally located and passing through an opening in divider l5 and diaphragm 16, a valve assembly 17 is shown to have a rod 18 terminating in a valve head 19, and in assembly confining a compression spring 20 and a pair of spring end washers 20A held by a projecting pin 21. Rod 18 projects through shell 11 into a sealed rubber cap 22.

A quantity of electrolyte 23 admitted through an opening capped by a closure 24, bridges a pair of elec- 27 is provided with attachment means 29 to a surface 30 on the vehicle. The pair of wires 31A and 31B connected to terminals 25A and 26A extend to the battery on one side and to the vehicle ignition circuit on the other side.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, switch 10 is shown for normal operation of the vehicle. Current may pass from the battery to terminal 25A, through electrolyte 23 via electrodes 25 and 26, to terminal 26A and out to the ignition circuit. In the event of an accident, in which the vehicle ends up in a steeply tilted position or completely up-side down, electrolyte 23 pours through openings 15 into enclosure 12 as seen in FIG. 2. Inspection between FIGS. 1 and 2 will make evident, not only that danger of fire has been removed due to ignition circuit arcing but also a safe condition persists even after the vehicle has been righted. The electrolyte remains in chamber 12 until safe conditions have been made after the hazardous condition of gasoline spill have been removed, at which time pressure on closure 22 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 permits the electrolyte to return to lower chamber 13 through the annular opening above valve head 19.

Although switch 10 is shown in a vertical position in FIG. 3, this is not necessarily the normal operation orientation in all cases. Depending upon the manufacturer of the vehicle, a suitable location for the switch may be adjacent to an angular wall. Clamping means 27 may even be attached to a horizontal member below the switch so long the member does not short terminals 25A and 26A.

What I now claim is:

1. A roll over switch for a vehicle, comprising in combination, a spherical enclosure an interior of which is divided into an upper and lower chamber by means of a circular disc surmounted by an adjacent flexible circular diaphragm, said disc having perforated openings there through throughout its area, said lower chamber containing an electric circuit closing electrolyted, said lower chamber containing a pair of spaced apart electrical terminals connected in an ignition circuit of said vehicle, whereby in case of roll over of said vehicle, said electrolyted pours outward through said perforated openings into the other chamber of said enclosure, thereby breaking said ignition circuit;, said disc and diaphragm having a central opening there through, as straight rod extending through said central openings, and enlarged head on one end of said rod bearing against an underside of said perforated disc, a compression coil spring being fitted around said rod, one end of said compression coil spring bearing against the upper side of said diaphragm, and opposite end of said compression coil spring bearing against a transverse extending pin secured to an longitudinal intermediate portion of said rod, and opposite end of said rod extending outwardly of said enclosure through an opening formed at a normally upper end of said enclosure, said outward protruding end of said rod extending into a sealed enclosure formed by a rubber cap secured to an upper end of said spherical enclosure, said rubber cap being of flexible material in order that it may be depressed so to manually push said rod for resetting said switch. 

1. A roll over switch for a vehicle, comprising in combination, a spherical enclosure an interior of which is divided into an upper and lower chamber by means of a circular disc surmounted by an adjacent flexible circular diaphragm, said disc having perforated openings there through throughout its area, said lower chamber containing an electric circuit closing electrolyted, said lower chamber containing a pair of spaced apart electrical terminals connected in an ignition circuit of said vehicle, whereby in case of roll over of said vehicle, said electrolyted pours outward through said perforated openings into the other chamber of said enclosure, thereby breaking said ignition circuit;, said disc and diaphragm having a central opening there through, as straight rod extending through said central openings, and enlarged head on one end of said rod bearing against an underside of said perforated disc, a compression coil spring being fitted around said rod, one end of said compression coil spring bearing against the upper side of said diaphragm, and opposite end of said compression coil spring bearing against a transverse extending pin secured to an longitudinal intermediate portion of said rod, and opposite end of said rod extending outwardly of said enclosure through an opening formed at a normally upper end of said enclosure, said outward protruding end of said rod extending into a sealed enclosure formed by a rubber cap secured to an upper end of said spherical enclosure, said rubber cap being of flexible material in order that it may be depressed so to manually push said rod for resetting said switch. 